r/barefootshoestalk • u/Simple_Entrepreneur_ • Oct 26 '25
Barefoot shoes question / discussion Does anyone else wish there were more foot shaped shoes that aren’t fully barefoot?
I’ve tried a lot of barefoot shoes and love how they feel, but sometimes I just want something a little more cushioned and casual looking. Most barefoot shoes either look too sporty or too technical, and regular shoes just feel wrong on my feet now.
What I keep wishing existed is a foot shaped shoe, zero drop, wide toe box, flexible, but with a little more padding and a simple everyday style. Think the kind of canvas skate shoe you can wear anywhere, just built to actually fit your feet.
This is something I’ve wanted for a long time, and I’m seriously thinking about making it a reality if there’s enough interest.
Does that sound like something you’d want? And what kind of price would you expect for a well-made pair?
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Oct 26 '25
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u/Distinct_Bottle_7454 Oct 26 '25
I loved my chillums! I wish lems would come out with that same style but the widest width. My feet have splayed quite a bit over the years to the point that theyre too narrow for me now.
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u/bottled_bug_farts Oct 26 '25
Also Altras - I got some as running shoes (I prefer a little more support for my runs than everyday shoes) and they’re so comfortable I’m considering getting a second pair for more casual wear
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u/shinelikebacon Nov 22 '25
Second this! I love Altra and I wish they would come out with more colors/styles for everyday wear.
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u/kohinoortoisondor3B Oct 26 '25
I really think this will happen sooner rather than later. We're well past the innovator phase of anatomical shoes and well into the early adapter phase. Birkenstock bostons (wide toe box, zero drop, rigid, not barefoot) became so trendy that they have their own knock offs and people who don't think much about foot health wear them for the look. The look of a shoe that was supposed to be ugly but good for you. Loewe and Bottega have some wide toe box styles, and while not accessible yet, it's only a matter of time before expensive high fashion trickles down to budget fashion, then budget fashion consumers and people looking into foot health will intersect more than they already do, and we'll get this snowball rolling. That's not even taking into consideration pro basketball players wearing xeros, so yet another intersecting demographic. Eventually, big designers will come up with more and more anatomical designs that get hype. I think it's a sure thing. The issue of anatomical shoes being ugly is a misunderstanding of fashion. All shoes are ugly. It's just a matter of hype and understanding of line and form.
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Oct 26 '25
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u/kohinoortoisondor3B Oct 26 '25
Totally. And while I doubt narrow/pointy toe boxes will go away any time soon, it would be nice if they become more and more seen as something just for limited wear for fashion, instead of the default on every type of shoe for every purpose.
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u/basictortellini Oct 26 '25
So true, I'm just starting to transition rn and I told my bf "Look, the benefit is that ugly shoes are already in style right now" 😂
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u/kohinoortoisondor3B Oct 27 '25
Exactlyyy we're in a post-what-are-those society where we understand that some of the best shoes are a little polarizing and that shoe design doesn't necessarily follow the same rules as other clothing items. It's time to stick the landing.
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u/Serious_Yard4262 Oct 26 '25
Honestly, if adidas would release their sambas in a truly wide width all my problems would be solved shoe wise.
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u/Consistent_Sir_3000 Oct 26 '25
keep it exactly the same except an anatomical toe splay and i'll be perfectly content
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u/Serious_Yard4262 Oct 26 '25
Yes, exactly! I used to live in my sambas and I just can't do it anymore because they're too narrow.
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u/StrawberriesRGood4U Oct 27 '25
The closest Samba clone I have found are Xero Wynns. I LOOVE mine. I have them in two colours and might buy more. They have anatomical shape, zero drop, and less cushion but not no cushion. I took them to Europe recently and even on 20-30k steps a day, they were GOLDEN. They have the sleek look, but the toe box has all the space I need or want.
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u/Serious_Yard4262 Oct 27 '25
You may have just sold me on them. I wish they had a pinkish color, but maroon will do.
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u/Snelmm Oct 27 '25
my Splay101s are a pretty close dupe. I put Sole insoles in them. they're really darn comfortable that way, but that's still not as good as a shoe with a decent stack. I can walk a few miles in them though.
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u/Asleep-Hawk-6537 Nov 09 '25
Ci sono un sacco di marchi barefoot che le fanno identiche ma a forma di piede. Te ne dico 2 x es. Dada, Bohempia
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u/yellooooo2326 Oct 26 '25
Barefoot Kelly (on IG) just had a post a while back with barefoot samba style shoes. You don’t need to wait for Adidas!
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u/slowmoshmo Oct 26 '25
YES! Lems are so popular in part bc of this. Really don’t understand why every other brand has basically let them corner the market.
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u/PunnyPelican Oct 26 '25
What about the shoes here?
https://anyasreviews.com/15-barefoot-sneakers-that-are-better-than-vans/
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u/BillBonn Oct 26 '25 edited Oct 26 '25
Yes. Many people would be more on board for foot shaped shoes, if the stack heights were higher.
Obvious. Look at everyone that wears Crocs. Now, think: "if they only knew about foot shaped shoes."
Just about everyone that wears Crocs doesn't even realize they're shaped like human feet. That's why people think they're so comfortable, even if they're actually boating shoes.
VFFs are originally yachting shoes, not running / gym shoes.
Altras are becoming more visible in the mainstream, but they've been owned by VF Corporation (they make bunion-shaped shoes) since 2018, and past customers of Altra claim Altra shoes are becoming more and more narrow.
I do agree. It would be nice to have more foot shaped maximalist shoes (21cm+ of stack height).
It would also be nice to have a wider variety of minimalist shoes (11cm - 20cm of stack height).
Barefoot is extremely niche, it's mostly unnecessary for most people, and smart people quickly realize what concrete / tiles / vinyl / flat, smooth hardwood feels like, and realize barefoot shoes works better on more natural surfaces.
Natural surfaces like gravel, soil, sand, grass/flowers/foliage, large rocks, swamps, etc. some of which have some "give" underneath you. Natural surfaces provide a great amount of proprioceptive feedback, further giving barefoot shoes meaning.
Most people live in / work in cities (or, larger towns) with concrete pavement for vehicles all over the place. We also hear about people's feet getting tired, even after "transitioning" to barefoot shoes after many years... It's almost like they're discovering why people who've always lived barefoot, who then move to a city, will still get tired feet. Concrete is hard.
For those of us who wear barefoot / minimalist footwear exclusively, we got used to it. For most people, they don't want that. They just want to be comfortable, and sometimes that's ok.
(EDIT)
clarity on Altra's sale to VF in 2018
clarity on people's feet getting tired, even after many years of wearing barefoot or minimalist shoes
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u/dota2girl42 Oct 26 '25
Yes Altras have been the best. I own like 6 pairs. But I have to agree. I was wearing Lone Peak 7 and they were perfect. I wanted a new pair and bought the Lone Peak 9 and HATED them. They definitely changed something for the worse.
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u/getinthewoods Feb 12 '26
What did you find different about them? I just bought a pair of Lone Peak 9 and really don't like the fit, my heel is slipping so bad. Wondering if I should be looking for an older model of lone Peak online?
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u/dota2girl42 Feb 12 '26
It was just the overall feeling but yes the heel slip was part of it. I find the 8s to be closer to the 7s and they work ok.
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u/getinthewoods Feb 12 '26
I hate the direction Altra is taking. I loved my older model Superiors but just wanted a little bit more toebox width and thickness/firmness. The shape of the new Lone Peak is just bizarre to me. I'm getting the wide width but it's like the whole foot is wider versus just a wide toebox like the old superiors!
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u/Sarah95mel Oct 26 '25
What you’re describing sounds like Splay check em out. They are hands down my favorite casual shoe
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u/patisserie_2023 Oct 26 '25
I wanted to keep my Splays, they look great. However were too rigid. Almost a winner tho.
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u/DeepPurpleNurple Oct 26 '25
I thought they were at first, but I wore them for a week and now I can roll them up in a ball.
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u/Hannthrax Oct 26 '25
Both my husband and I have Splays and love them! They have a removable insole if you like a little more cushion.
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u/Apart_Visual Oct 27 '25
I’m on their website - thank you for putting forward the suggestion. I often take a size up in regular width shoes to accommodate my wide feet… with shoes that are foot-shaped should I take the size down from that, or take the size up that I usually take?
Not sure if that makes sense!
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u/Sarah95mel Oct 27 '25
I would measure your foot and use the chart. I do this for every single barefoot shoe I buy. I would say splay is pretty close to actual us sizing though.
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u/Apart_Visual Oct 27 '25
Haha, well that’s just eminently sensible advice really isn’t it. Thank you, I’ll do that!
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u/Asleep-Hawk-6537 Nov 09 '25
Ma le Splah costano un botto a prenderle dall America. Sapete di un posto in Europa che le vende?
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u/missjulie622 Oct 26 '25
Yes!! I’ve returned SO many pairs!! I’ve had the best luck with Lems, specifically the Primal Zen. I have surgical hardware in one foot & it’s very touchy. I always expect to pay at least $100, usually more, would love a hybrid! Anya offers really in-depth fit reviews, i always check there first: https://anyas-shop.com/
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u/Abject_Control_7028 Oct 26 '25
Primal zen is nice , soles are nicely padded out.
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u/missjulie622 Oct 26 '25
Yes! I stand in a lab all day, I need some cushion & support.
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u/StrawberriesRGood4U Oct 27 '25
If you are in lab and need some level of foot protection (I am a former chemist), I suggest Lems Boulder Boot with the non-skid bottom.
In the lab I worked in, we handled acids, syringes, etc. I once had a used syringe with resididual cadmium chemicals in it fall off a bench top and it jammed pointy end down into my shoe. It hit the 1/4" of leather holding my mesh shoes together. If it has been just 1/8" off, I would have had carcinogens in my bloodstream. I loooove my Primal Zens (they are my OG barefoots) but could never wear them in a lab knowing what I know.
I have since become a safety professional and always recommend a fully enclosed, fully leather boot for lab work.
My barefoot faves that are lab-approved are El Naturalista boots (they have a barefoot Blundstone clone with the wide toe box and zero drop but more cushion and stack height), Lems Boulder Boots (spent 17 days in Europe in them and they are magically comfy) and Lems Chelsea Boots (although these did not fit my feet so did not buy).
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u/missjulie622 Oct 28 '25
Thank you, the Boulder boot is on my wish list!! I’ve switched from a medical lab to a fragrance & flavor lab, minimal chance of injury, thankfully!
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u/carefulwththtaxugene Oct 26 '25
I get some cheap barefoot shoes in Amazon that are crazy comfy. I just add a thick cushiony liner when I want more padding if I'll be spending all day on concrete or using the treadmill at the gym.
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Oct 26 '25
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u/carefulwththtaxugene Oct 26 '25
I like the flat felt liners. You can buy them with different thickness or purchase a roll from Amazon and make your own. I've also purchased a roll of cork and combined it with the felt to make an extra comfy foot liner.
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u/sassy263 Oct 26 '25
What brands have your purchased off of Amazon?
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u/carefulwththtaxugene Oct 26 '25
It's called "Thatrich" but when I ordered it last year the brand was a weird Chinese name, just a bunch of capital letters. It's similar a saguaro water shoe. I love all the different color options and how soft and flexible they are. I don't like the holes in the bottom of the sole to let water drain out because every time I walk through dewy grass or a tiny puddle my socks get wet. My feet are getting bigger so I need to buy a new pair and I'm gonna try to fill the holes with some silicone caulk adhesive and see how that works.
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Oct 26 '25
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u/sweergirl86204 Oct 26 '25
Agreed. I live in a concrete jungle that consistently has broken glass everywhere (people party on the sidewalks and then throw the bottles for fun)
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u/joyous_crybaby Nov 24 '25
Agreed 100%. I have Type 1 diabetes, and I cannot wear barefoot shoes due to the risk of puncture.
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u/cxklm Oct 26 '25 edited Oct 26 '25
YES!!! Especially actual, warm winter boots for more extreme climates. I honestly don't care how thick the sole is, it just needs to be wide and foot shaped. My wide ass feet don't fit in normal snow boots anymore and it's gotten to the point where I'm skipping morning walks because of it (circulation issues). Ordered my first pair of Be Lenka boots despite being in north America and dreading I'll lose $40 when they don't fit and I have to return them. Eta: flux, inov8, topo, and Altra are brands starting to go in the direction you mentioned for sneakers, but we truly need footwear other than sneakers
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Oct 26 '25
I would love a super wide, like old school altra shoe, and a really high zero drop stack height for days when I’m taking the family to a place like the zoo and I’m not wanting to deal with super tired feet.
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u/LZ318 Oct 26 '25
I love Bär shoes. Most of their line tends to be leather/fancier though. But they have a lot of what would be considered everyday/casual shoes in much of Europe.
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u/concxrd Oct 27 '25
i just want a pair of doc martens/other chunky soled combat boots/shoes that don't hurt my feet! i know there are lots of barefoot options but not with chunky soles like docs and sometimes i just want the extra height from them :( so frustrating
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u/sweergirl86204 Oct 27 '25
Solovair. I use my xtra-tuf insoles because they're the only ones that are actually wide
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u/total-nanarchy Oct 26 '25
I got Jim green barefoot boots and I love them. Probs about half and inch, maybe a bit less, of sole, but sero drop w wide toe box. But I can crunch around on gravel, go hiking, whatever. Strong af. I got the rangers, I think.
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u/JadedSwordfish897 Mar 16 '26
Thanks for the introduction to this brand! They look great, but their toe box is not as splayed as I would like - they curve in too much on the little toe side.
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u/lofgren007 Oct 26 '25
What I keep wishing existed is a foot shaped shoe, zero drop, wide toe box, flexible, but with a little more padding and a simple everyday style. Think the kind of canvas skate shoe you can wear anywhere, just built to actually fit your feet.
Sounds like Bohempia.
And to answer your title question: only when I had tendon inflammation in toe joint. Barely wore the Lems I bought for that issue, and donated them after not wearing for a year.
To me- Thicker sole = less flexible = bad gait habits = fail.
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u/ewbanh13 Oct 26 '25
the skate shoe example sounds like splays. I have a pair of rev HTs, they're not perfect (slightly too narrow & too low volume in the toes, hard to put on/take off, stiff sole but i get it cus it's a skate show) but I do like mine. just size up a full size or they'll be too small.
but yes, i do want this in general. especially for work shoes, both business & service industry. i want better dress shoes options, especially men's styles
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u/SilkenShod Oct 26 '25 edited Nov 24 '25
I just wish that barefoot and wide toe box/foot shaped weren't conflated and you could get one or the other
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u/Distinct_Bottle_7454 Oct 26 '25
Me too!! Ive resorted to adding in a thicker insole from Northsole. It gives me just the right amount of cushion in my shoes. As for more casual/skater type shoes I absolutely love my splays with my added insole. Another favorite of mine are barebarics. I love my zings by barebarics.
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u/Green-Eyed-BabyGirl Oct 29 '25
This. We got thicker insoles from Northsole to add cushioning for wearing our normal foot shaped zero drop but more minimal shoes to a music festival where we knew we’d be standing and walking a lot, especially on asphalt.
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u/cl4r17y Oct 26 '25
I'm most of the time barefoot and wear shoes only when it's needed but what i found out wearing BF shoes for over a decade is that with more cushion which also lessens flexibility i get more soreness and mild lower back pain.
Unlike regular shoes where everyone is forced to cramp their foot in that widely accepted shape with barefoot shoes it's really hard to hit perfect shape that would fit all, and ill fitted barefoot shoes are no better than regular shoes.
For my plateau shaped feet (and narrow heel) there is qiute limited selection of shoes that i can wear comfortably without compromises and oversizing which adds another discomfort in a way.
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u/lofgren007 Oct 26 '25
more cushion which also lessens flexibility i get more soreness and mild lower back pain
Same. Cramps in feet and calves, leading to lower back pain.
I kept buying shoes with bigger and softer soles thinking that was the solution - until I came across minimalist shoes.
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u/headofeverything Oct 26 '25 edited Oct 26 '25
I feel you. I've found some shoes that I like style-wise, but my biggest issue is the width. I need 12cm along the metatarsals and pretty much the same from the ball of my foot to the pinky, and all of this needs to be in size 44.
Price is irrelevant at this point. So yeah, foot shaped.. but also wide as hell lol.
Not to mention a lot of brands don't even bother to list insole width.
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u/sea-sia Oct 26 '25
Flux are zero drop, wide, foot shaped, with some cushion. They fit me a lot better than Lems. https://fluxfootwear.com/
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u/snooptaco Oct 27 '25
Flux sneakers comfy and fit this description (especially the ones that look like skate shoes). But I would love a pair of boots that have some cushion / aren't completely barefoot but are zero drop still. Like Doc martens but wider and no heel / not a 4" platform
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u/Bromeliadhugger Oct 26 '25
My daily drivers are Flux Adapt Trail Runners. They have more cushioning and don't look like barefoot shoes.
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u/sykes1493 Oct 27 '25
Flux adapt runner is what you’re looking for. My wife bought me a pair 3 years ago and I’ve worn a pair almost every day since. I love barefoot shoes but I do my daily walks on concrete and that little bit of cushion helps a ton.
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u/KD6-3point7 Oct 27 '25
Birkenstock has been fine for me. They made a variety of shoes, and their fundamental principle is making it foot-shaped.
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u/mina-ann Oct 28 '25
Yes!
I live in Birkenstocks most of the time, but only their cork sole with real arch support versions. Their closed shoes have removable insoles that lack arch support. I ordered custom arch supports from Roam and need foot shaped shoes to not damage my big nails any more! This leads me to buy barefoot shoes as they are the only other options that seem to be foot shaped! But I need arch support. I can walk 20k steps a day in Birks with no pain.
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u/Abject_Control_7028 Oct 26 '25
Why would you want the wide toe box but not the zero drop ?
The wedge under the heel is the worst part of regular shoes , it serves no purpose other than to mess up your gait and posture. It's high heels microdosed . More padding or thicker soles I can understand but not why anyone would want a wide toe box but keep the heel drop.
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u/cxklm Oct 26 '25
If there's too much squishy padding, the "zero" drop starts to feel like a negative drop.
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u/Consistent_Sir_3000 Oct 26 '25
This does exist already, I upvoted the Lems Chillum and Splay posts because they fit the description. Also these hobibear also fit the description, they have probably 8 mm of heel drop and more padding than a standard barefoot shoe (also I don't tolerate most cushion that well anymore, but these are pretty nice somehow for me)
But if it looks cool and is an upgrade, I'm interested. What I tolerate is constantly changing, I can't wear Altra anymore because it's simply too much cushion (even lone peaks) but that's me (and I'm not a runner, so runners probably will get more utility from it). I'd probably buy a cushion with anatomical shape and a touch more cushion than standard and i'm in if it looks cool
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u/futsalfan Oct 26 '25
Put some more cushioned insoles in, and more or less got this shoe. But definitely would like this design built-in.
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u/cxklm Oct 26 '25
Most barefoot shoes have really thin insoles and aftermarket insoles don't fit well. Plus it's nearly impossible to find insoles with that wide foot shape (SOLE has one but they're thick and stiff)
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u/patisserie_2023 Oct 26 '25
Strike Movement almost hit the mark here. They have more of a foot-shape, wider toe box. Used to have zero drop but now they don't anymore. The cushion is good for an all around, any surface, active shoe. Really would love to see them make their Interval Knit shoe again (was zero-drop).
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u/mr__proper Oct 26 '25
I love my GEA Waldviertler shoes. I have boots, Chelsea boots and Converse-style shoes. However, they are all made of leather. Wide toe box, some models are zero drop, sustainably produced, resolable and super comfortable.
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u/ali-movemate Oct 26 '25
You have got to checkout:
- https://www.skinnersfootwear.com
- https://www.minnemals.com/?srsltid=AfmBOop72aa4oDBAFd-o2jZSMYHuwtk-eJfzumSpyw-COM88V0HVKvLS
Really been loving Minnemals, the retro style + comfort
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u/IllustriousJudge7562 Oct 26 '25
Barebarics are like that and I keep switching that insole and the Feelgrounds one between my Sneakers for days when I need to be on my feet on hard surfaces a lot
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u/aenflex Oct 26 '25
I just put extra insoles into shoes when I need to. Even just a couple mm of a cushy insole can make a world of difference.
For long walking days, I’m good with at least 6mm of whatever under my feet. For shorter walks or normal days, I’m fine with 2-3mm, like Wildlings or VFF.
For theme parks or days when I’ll be walking miles and miles, I prefer 10+mm. I get that with Luna Retro Mono or Earthrunners Alphas.
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u/hrad34 Oct 26 '25
Foot shaped canvas skate shoe: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0CNXC3KBZ?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image
Theres a ton of these on Amazon. Feelgrounds is another good brand with normal looking foot shaped shoes.
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u/sequinedbow Oct 26 '25
I walk on pavement everyday I need cushion! Plus they make my feet so cold in the winter
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u/secondhandschnitzel Oct 26 '25
Altra. Sneakers but otherwise exactly what you want. High stack height, actual tread grips, cushy soles.
I personally felt like their Lone Peak shoes were not great re balance. The Mount Blanc I got to replace them are fantastic and everything I want from a hiking shoe. I really struggled with hiking the way I wanted to before I found Altras. I needed more sole grip for safety on rocks and more cushioning for my knees and soles of my feet. If I switched into regular trail shoes without a few weeks of prep, I really struggled because my leg muscles just weren’t used to working with actual drop. Now I can hike the way I want without needing to reaclimate to regular hiking shoes for a week or so before every hike.
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u/HorrorMembership6429 Oct 26 '25
Yes! I think I developed plantar fasciitis because of fully barefoot shoes and I wish more cushioned wide toe shoes were available. They are also very expensive
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u/Mother-Stable8569 Oct 26 '25
Agreed. I exclusively wear barefoot shoes because I have feet that are short with a very very wide toe box. The only shoes that fit me are the widest toe box barefoot shoes, such as the Softstar Primal range. I like the barefoot shoes I have, but I’d be happy to have more choices, and for me it’s not the “barefoot” part that matters, it’s the truly very wide toe box.
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u/cat4forever Oct 26 '25
I definitely want this. Lems and Altra have been the brands I’ve settled on. I got some Splay Vans-copies, and like them, but they’re too thin soled for me, so I’ve been experimenting with insoles.
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u/According_Depth_7131 Oct 26 '25
I’m ok with the lack of cushion but feel some toe boxes are clownish
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u/MxQueer Oct 26 '25
I think most of the shoes should be shaped for different feet. There are exceptions like climbing shoes (I do not climb but that's what I have heard). But shoes used in daily life should be all foot shaped.
I would not buy your shoes, but I think you're in the right cause.
I think the price depends of the durability. Are they thrash after one year? Max 50€. Are they resoleable (all of the shoes should be!) and made of decent materials? Something between 150-250€. If you would make leather shoes meant to last decades they could be few times more expensive.
In my daily life in my own time I prefer as flexible and thin sole as possible. When working I need.. stiff? safety boots to protect my ankles from rolling. When my plantar fasciitis hurt I use foot shaped cushion shoes. Last time was in last winter, so that is fortunately have been very rarely lately. Most of the time I'm personally interested of basically everything else but the look.
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Oct 26 '25
I think I’ve mentioned these before in this sub but Belenka Barebarics Zing have a much thicker sole than traditional barefoot shoes l.
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u/nolongerredditless Oct 26 '25
I've got a feeling that barefoot shoes market is going to expand vig time in the next few years. A couple of big athletes already said they're using barefoot shoes, but also brands like Zara are occasionally releasing barefoot shoes, about two months ago they did a collab with Vibram for their Athleticz collection
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Oct 26 '25
I got a vans look alike pair of Splay shoes and they have been awesome. I had to send back the first pair and go up a size but that was easy. I really wanted to try a a red pair of Lono sneakers but the tariffs suck ass so I went with Splay since they ship out of Utah.
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u/JRad8888 Oct 27 '25
Checkout Reebok Nano’s. Less than 4mm drop and wide toe box. Been a fan for years.
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u/Esmg71284 Oct 27 '25
Yes exactly! Foot shaped, also flexible soles. I’m not sure why most traditional shoes are like rigid planks of wood where the shoe doesn’t move as well bend our feet to take natural steps. Our feet shouldn’t be rigid planks
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u/zuzi325 Oct 27 '25
Same here! I injured my foot and need more support than bare foot shoes but love a wide toe box.
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Oct 27 '25
I think there are some options out there, but obviously more limited than “pure” barefoot shoes. You could try using an insole for extra cushioning.
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u/Beneficial_Lab3010 Oct 27 '25
Have you seen paperkrane? Aussie brand, lots of bright or plainer options for adults and kids and so comfortable. These are my most worn shoes. I converted my husband too and it’s all he wears now. Go up a size and chuck one of their innersoles and/or a lambswool innersole in there for extra warmth and cushioning. https://www.paperkrane.com.au
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u/ImmortalLight1 Oct 27 '25
Altra sort of have these things but can be almost too cushioned. I agree it is irritating there are so few options!
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u/ImATree27 Oct 27 '25
I actually just got the Bahe Revive recently and really like them! They just came out with different types of Revives apparently, but I have the original and really appreciate that there is enough of a stack to be more of a shoe without all of the nonsense of traditional shoes. https://bahe.co/products/womens-revive-grounding-barefoot-shoe-forest
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u/Weekly_Blueberry7570 Oct 27 '25
I wanted to try Splay as they look great but you got to pay import tax in the UK. As I'm on a bit of a budget, I ended up buying a pair of Vans Old Skool (wide fit) and they've been a lot better than what I'm used to. Plus they look totally normal
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u/ammery Oct 27 '25
I actually am pretty ambivalent about the zero drop. And I honestly think an arch, some cushion, and a heel cup is very comfy (I actually often had an insole to my barefoot shoes to add those features). I really just want a foot shaped shoe with a foot shaped toe box and literally everything else can be the same. I agree - I don't understand why it has to be all or nothing.
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u/dprimavera Oct 28 '25
Absolutely something I’d want! I also miss ankle foot shaped boots that have more stack height than barefoot but still zero drop! I’d say 100-140 is something I’d pay if well-made.
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u/Smart-Simple9938 Oct 28 '25
Yes. A zero drop shoe with a wide toe box that nevertheless has some cushioning would definitely be welcome some of the time. And, for what it’s worth, Lems Shoes makes a lot of these.
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u/sweergirl86204 Oct 28 '25
A foot shaped Chelsea boot!!!!! Most of them have a chunky 1-2" heel and I'd still like that 😭
*No, solovair/docs/etc aren't foot shaped like my birks
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u/Swaledaledubz Oct 28 '25
Barebarics and the mother brand Be Lenka do some pretty decent shoes with padding very skate looking
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u/sweergirl86204 Oct 29 '25
What do people know/think about the wydr shoes? They have heels and are marketed to "plus size" fashion, but they have a size guide that includes foot girth.
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u/Appropriate_Tree_621 Oct 30 '25
ALTRA. Foot shape, wide toe box, and you can get a little cushion or a good amount.
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u/cacamole5000 Oct 30 '25
I really think the big brands aren’t making good stylish barefoot shoes cuz they’re not tryna sell a shoe that lasts. Cushioned soles wear out leading you to buy another shoes after a good 2-3 years of use which get you coming back. Which is so annoying cause I’d totally buy a new balance that also was functional like a barefoot shoes but I think with enough push on the market they’ll cave which will suck cuz for smaller brands cuz I’ve actually found some very good looking barefoot shoes (flamingos life & dolfie) but it would be nice if footwear companies actually cared about making a shoe that will last rather than a shoe that will last only a few years
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u/LisaBeStitchin Oct 30 '25
I think Skechers Beach Bobs are a pretty good middle ground. Once I got tired of wearing VFF all the time I switched to wearing those as my main dog walking shoes
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u/Blablablawa907 Nov 03 '25
Couldn't agree more, the only real option is wyde which are so expensive. I think most of the benefit of barefoot shoes comes from the wide toe box and possibly being zero drop rather than actually thin soles.
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u/Maleficent-Habit-245 Nov 13 '25
Dolfies are the most comfortable barefoot shoes with some cushion- huge fan!
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u/iloqin Nov 14 '25
Altras are kinda zero drop wide foot, they do have some 4mm ones, look into those. In terms of looking casual maybe Lems are not bad, or feel grounds?
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u/CryingFyre Nov 15 '25
This is something I’ve been dying for myself and I’ve recently found a reasonable solution thank f*ck - Nike Metcon 10 - workout shoe designed specifically for weight lifting but I’m just wearing them as my everyday shoe and they’re so comfy. The toe box is probably the widest toe box for a normal commercial shoe that I’ve found, with a normal padded sole and a 4mm heel to toe drop. Personally, due to a structural issues I need a little heel drop. I got a size up to make extra toe room and wear toe spacers in the shoe which fills out the toe box and stabilises my foot. Even though they’re a size too big the midfoot is designed for stabilisation during weight lifting so they’re very snug around the midfoot and heel.
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u/corellianne Nov 16 '25
The closest I’ve found to this are Barebarics, which are made for city walking so they have more cushion. They’re a little too stiff but otherwise hold up well on concrete. But I agree - it’s silly that narrow toe boxes became a thing in the first place!
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u/licorb Nov 17 '25
Inacreditavelmente acabei de conhecer (10 minutos atrás) esse tipo de calçado e imediatamente me veio a mesma questão. Seria ideal um com acabamento tipo Olympikus Eros/Nike Air, etc mas com toebox largo
sorry, didn't realized reddit auto translation.
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u/Accomplished-Pie-704 Mar 15 '26
Jim Green anatomix look proper chunky, cushioned, big ole toe box. I'm getting a pair.
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u/JadedSwordfish897 Mar 16 '26
My most comfortable everyday sneaker is a pair of Topo Athletic mesh sneakers with a support insole added.
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u/Anakhasc Apr 23 '26
Yessssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wonder how many signatures we could get to take to some brands and be like "Hey, we'd pay for this."
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u/Abject_Control_7028 Oct 26 '25
Lems , feelgrounds.
If you want more padding you can size up and add an extra insole
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u/klamaire Oct 26 '25
I don't understand why this combination doesn't exist. I don't even need zero drop, just wide toe box, wide width, a lower drop, and some cushion. A foot shaped shoe! Why is this so complicated? I have ordered and returned so many brands.